Interesting
article from the New York Times about China's efforts to recruit more male
teachers. Why? They're worried that a shortage of male teachers has produced a
generation of timid, self-centered and effeminate boys. Chinese educators are
working to reinforce traditional gender roles and values in the classroom.
"Men have special duties, they have
to be brave, protect women and take responsibility for wrongdoing."
Schools
have asked boys to sign petitions pledging to act like "real men."
(That concept has yet to be defined.) Principals are trying boys-only classes
with courses like martial arts, computer repair and physics, (things that women
obviously can't do!). In this country and elsewhere there is active recruiting
of more women in the sciences and research and development and creativity in
general.
There
is a general anxiety about boys in Chinese society. While boys outnumber girls
as a result of the long-standing one child policy and a cultural preference for
sons, they lag in academic performance. But “The State,” in it's infinite
stupidity, is putting their hope in male role models who they believe impart
lessons on "assertiveness, courage and sacrifice."
First,
there are so many women whose lives and work are examples of true and lasting
values and behavior. Second, why is learning these things from a female role
model such a problem? Are those lessons any less important or doable because a
competent, grown up adult female is the role model?
Parents
have accused schools of propagating rigid concepts of masculinity and gender
norms. Female educators have denounced efforts to attract more male teachers
with lavish perks as sexist. I do not remember having a male teacher until
junior high school. I agree with those who say having female teachers was a
positive experience and positive influence. One female teacher in the article
said,"We have a more intuitive sense
of children's needs."
The
crux of the matter rests upon the idea that, "It isn't the responsibility of schools to teach boys to be boys. It's
the responsibility of the parents." I talk with my daughter all the
time about the experience of her first year teaching first graders. I hear this
constantly from her and others as well. Parents tell her they don't have time
to sit and do homework with their children. Many parents seem to think that
signing up their children for school transfers the responsibility of socializing
and teaching them how to behave as members of a group to the school. They are
usually the ones who complain the loudest and the most.
One
of my Leynorisms, "Genitals Are Not
Entitlement To Parenthood.!!!" One Chinese "educator" who
wrote a book titled, "Save The Boys"
claims that Chinese students were increasingly distant from male role models,
INCLUDING THEIR FATHERS! Will male teachers be the magic fix they're looking
for to perpetuate the gender roles of their culture?
You
want to teach boys how to be men? Teach them that Real Men don't abuse women,
Real Men are confident to share power with women, Real Men can learn great
lessons from both genders as long as the teachers have character, integrity and
values. Instead of looking to “The State” for teaching children how to live,
parents would achieve much better results by teaching – and demonstrating -- Values that benefit all people for the Common
Good.
TOV
Values are Time-Tested Values that place LIFE as the Highest Value and Top
Priority. Gender Equality is a Core
Value and a Basic Requirement of Life – a
Value that must be Protected and Preserved for to make Life More Functional and
Increases the Quality of Life. Consumer
Virus Memes have infected the minds of our generation. This memetic virus causes
Americans to see themselves as “consumers” of school systems, political
systems, religious systems, etc. The foundation of a good healthy society is
the family and that makes parenting one of the most important roles in the
world. Our goal at the TOV Center is to
help parents succeed in that role.
For those living in the Dallas-Ft. Worth
Metroplex area I have a special request.
I
want to meet with people and share the TOV Center vision of helping individuals
incorporate Time-Tested TOV Values in their lives, assist them in creating Values-Based
Relationships and then networking together to make their lives better and
safer.
● Would
you like to meet with me and attend a meeting?
● Would
you host a meeting?
If
your answer is “yes” to either or both of the above questions – email me by clicking here. I am looking forward to seeing
you and sharing our vision.
Shalom,
Rabbi
Jeffrey Leynor
